Who here doesn’t love a good freebee (yes, I’m on the puns already!)? Well, here is a sweet free bee crochet pattern for all of you lovely crocheters.
A perfect complement to the ‘Bee Kind’ Wall Hanging, this sleepy, little bee is easy-to-make and an ideal quick project. She’ll ‘bee’ a new firm-favourite with children (or adults) of any age.
What’s the buzz all about?
Recently I have been working on a Bee Kind wall hanging for my eldest daughter. There is a lot going on in her world; with the ever-changing dynamics inside friendship groups, looking ahead to starting secondary school, a growing awareness of the world around us and some of the more recent unpleasant headlines that we have all seen in the news. I wanted to remind her that in the face of all this change and uncertainty that she and the world is going through, kindness is the most important quality she can work on.
As well as the wall hanging, I wanted to add something else the gift. Something that she can touch and hold as a visible reminder and to bring her comfort alongside the wall-hanging in her room. I had a think and knew exactly what to do.
Now, I’ve been sitting on this pattern for a while, because I wasn’t sure of the best time to release it. Initially, I was going to release it earlier this year at Easter, but the timing didn’t feel right.
I am so glad that I waited, because this little bee is the perfect accompaniment to the ‘Bee Kind’ Wall Hanging. I adore seeing my two favourite types of crochet projects come together in one gift.
I’m now in the middle of making a small army of bees for my youngest, my husband, my mum and everyone else who wants one, luckily they are so quick and easy to make.
I am delighted to share this free bee crochet pattern with you, below. However, this pattern is also available as a Premium Pattern!
Premium Patterns are beautifully formatted, ad-free, printable PDF files; they also contain features that are not available in the free pattern version, such as:
- Extra photos and guidance to help you with the little details.
- Instructions and photos for left-handed and right-handed people, where needed, so there is no need to adapt the pattern before you start.
- Relevant step-by-step photo tutorials for the skills you need to complete the project, making it easy every step of the way.
- Instructions using US and UK crochet terms, so you can enjoy the pattern no matter which crochet language you use.
Free Bee Crochet Pattern
This is an easy pattern suitable for those that have practiced the basics of crochet and are ready for their next project. There is no set gauge for this pattern, however the finished size should be approximately 3 inches high (7 cm). Here is what you will need:
Materials
- You can use any DK or light weight yarn (other yarn thickness can be used – this will result in a different size). I have used the following acrylic yarn and needed less than 50g of each colour:
- Stylecraft Special DK in Citron (yarn A)
- Stylecraft Special DK in Black (yarn B)
- Stylecraft Special DK in White (yarn C)
- Polyester stuffing
- 2.5mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- Stitch marker or scrap piece of yarn (optional)
Special Techniques
This pattern uses a magic adjustable ring to start. It also uses invisible decreases.
Invisible decrease: insert hook into the front loops of the next 2 stitches, yarn over, pull through the first 2 loops of the hook, yarn over, pull through the final 2 loops on the hook. This counts as 1 sc.
Notes
- Are you new to crochet? Here is a handy post explaining all the abbreviations.
- I have used US crochet stitch terms for this post. Check out this US to UK stitch conversion guide if you prefer to work in UK stitches.
- All pieces are worked in continuous (spiral) rounds with right side facing at all times. Do not turn or join at end of each round unless instructed. Place stitch marker or use a scrap piece of yarn for beginning of round and move marker up as each round is completed.
- Keep your stitches tight to produce a solid looking fabric. You don’t want gaps between your stitches.
- When you add the stuffing, you do not want to overstuff to the point that the stuffing is visible.
- To change colour, work last stitch of old colour to last yarn over. Yarn over with new colour and draw through all loops on hook to complete stitch. Continue with new colour. Carry the non-working yarn loose up inside the amigurumi.
The Premium Pattern contains left handed and right handed close up photos to guide you.
Head/Body
Make one.
With yarn B, work 6 sc into a magic adjustable ring. Pull tail to close. (6)
Round 1. 2 sc in each sc to end. (12 sts)
Round 2. [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc] repeat to end. (18 sts)
Round 3. [1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] repeat to end. (24 sts)
Round 4. [2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc] repeat to end. (30 sts)
Round 5. 1 sc in BL of each sc to end (30 sts)
Round 6. 1 sc in each sc to end, finish last st with yarn A. (30 sts)
Round 7 – 8 (two rounds). 1 sc in each sc to end, finish last st with yarn B. (30 sts)
Round 9 – 10 (two rounds). 1 sc in each sc to end, finish last st with yarn A. (30 sts)
Fasten off yarn B.
Round 11 – 16 (six rounds). 1 sc in each sc to end. (30 sts)
Round 17. [inv dec, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc] repeat to end. (24 sts)
Round 18. 1 sc in each sc to end. (24 sts)
Round 19. [Inv dec, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc] repeat to end. (18 sts)
Round 20. [Inv dec, 1 sc in next sc] repeat to end. (12 sts)
Stuff firmly.
Round 21. Inv dec 5 times. (5 sts, leave the last 2sts unworked)
Fasten off. Use tail to sew the hole closed, weave in ends.
Arm/Leg
Make four.
With yarn A, work 6 sc into a magic adjustable ring. Pull tail to close. (6)
Round 1. 2 sc in each sc to end. (12 sts)
Round 2 – 3 (two rounds). 1 sc in each sc to end. (12 sts)
Round 4. [Inv dec, 1 sc in next sc] repeat to end. (8 sts)
Stuff lightly.
Round 5. Flatten the arm/leg together and close with 1 sc in each of next 3 sc going through both sides. (3 sts).
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing the arm/leg to the body.
Wing
Make two.
With yarn C, work 6 sc into a magic adjustable ring. Pull tail to close. (6)
Round 1. 2 sc in each sc to end. (12 sts)
Round 2 – 5 (four rounds). 1 sc in each sc to end. (12 sts)
Do not stuff
Round 6. Flatten the wing together and close with 1 sc in each of next 5 sc going through both sides. (5 sts).
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing the wing to the body.
Small Bee Assembly
The Premium Pattern contains a photo tutorial for this section.
1. Sew the wings, arms and legs to the body. If the colour change from yarn A to yarn B is very noticeable, use the placement of the wings to hide the colour change.
2. Embroider on the eyes with a single strand of yarn B, with three stitches for each eye, in the shape \ _ /
3. For the antennae, attach the yarn B to the top of the head, above one eye, with a slip stitch. 5 chain, then fasten off. Complete on the other side of the head, above the other eye, for the second antennae. Hide the ends inside the body.
And there you go, I hope you enjoy making Buzzy Bee using this Free Bee Crochet Pattern. It would make a great gift or addition to your amigurumi collection. Looking for inspiration on what to make next? Check out these other patterns, to add to your collection. I’d love to see your finished project; you can link to me on Ravelry, tag me on Instagram or visit my Facebook page.
If you do wish to have your very own beautifully formatted copy of the pattern to keep or write on, that is ad-free, printer-friendly, and packed with lots of useful photos and tutorials, you can purchase the Premium Pattern through either my Etsy or Ravelry store.
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See what other people are saying
“The pattern was easy to follow and quick. It’s such a cute piece to make also. I would recommend it for a beginner to advanced. It was fun to make.”
CG
“Easy to read and understand. Amazing patterns!! I absolutely love them both. Patterns are easy to follow.”
ESS
“I loved it, such a cute little pattern!”
AH
“It was great. Very easy to understand”
DS
